ITV is dropping more than 10 hours of its usual Saturday programmes on November 7 to make way for a full day of rugby, with James Martin's Saturday Morning cut short as the channel clears its schedule for the Nations Championship.
Viewers tuning in on the first day of the weekend will notice the schedule looks very different to a typical Saturday, with the usual favourites missing. Normally the afternoon features a film before the usual Saturday evening quiz and entertainment shows begin, but today the channel will give way to rugby apart from news bulletins.
James Martin's Saturday Morning Cut Short
James Martin's Saturday Morning, which usually runs from 9.30am to noon, will finish at 11am. Fans can still enjoy a condensed 90-minute version of the show from the usual time of 9.30am.
A synopsis for the show reads: "On Remembrance weekend, James cooks cured trout and popcorn prawns with ponzu tuna for Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen who talks about his work with the Royal British Legion as well as his career in design and TV. Chefs Richard Corrigan and Asma Khan join James in the kitchen."
Early risers can catch James Martin from 6am with a 30-minute repeat of James Martin's Islands to Highlands, followed by the hour-long repeat of James Martin's American Adventure. These are followed at 7.30am with a repeat of Love Your Garden With Alan Titchmarsh featuring chats with Eric Idle and former Strictly star La Voix.
Nations Championship Rugby Coverage
The same schedule change is set to be repeated on Saturday, November 14, as ITV will be hosting the Nations Championship. The rugby tournament sees the 12 biggest teams in international rugby collide every two years, with north facing south across six rounds of elite competition culminating in a blockbuster Finals Weekend.
Today the action kicks off when Jill Douglas presents Italy v South Africa. This will be followed at 1.40pm with Scotland v New Zealand, and then Wales v Japan at 4.20pm.
Following the ITV News bulletins at 7pm there will be more rugby at 7.30pm when France takes on Fiji. The rugby coverage finishes at 10.30pm when there will be another news bulletin and then It'll Be Alright on the Night.
